Reader Thoughts: Yurcich Problems and Who Gets Jalen’s Catches?

The reader thoughts this week were really good considering how bad Oklahoma State was last Saturday. Let’s jump right in.

After sleeping on it and a day away from it. I won’t put this entire thing on Corndog. While I think he’s a quality backup, he’s not dynamic, he isn’t making a bunch of plays. I’d honestly start Brown for the first half against KU and Sanders in the second half. See which one gives them the best chance to win.

My two biggest problems with Yurcich are 1. he often times takes too long to adjust TCU last year (he also struggles at getting space created, is it me or does OU look like they play on twice as big of a field?) 2. His offense is feast or famine.

Like, at the end of the season they put up huge numbers and nice stat line. How often does OSU flip the field? It’s like they either go quick three and out or TD/FG drive. No in between. Would be nice to get the ball on our 30 and gain some field position. I’d love for us to score every drive, but that is as realistic as expecting multiple punt blocks.

Flipping the field accomplishes two things, it gives the D rest and it sets up the other teams O in bad field position. Play calling is quite a bit different inside your own 10 than on your 35.

Bottom line, this is on the coaching staff, Gundy makes a lot of money to get these decisions right and it looks like he’s made another error in picking a QB. I’m just frustrated because we should never lose to Tech, and to watch a true fresh light us up when we have one that I’d bet my mortgage on is better than what’s currently starting is disheartening. Chris M.

I thought this was a good email and that the Yurcich criticism is fair. I certainly agree with the first part that when it goes poorly for OSU it doesn’t seem like they make adjustments on the fly as quickly as you would like. OG OC Todd Monken sometimes didn’t either (2011 A&M?), but this is at times a recurring trend with Yurcich.

As for the second part, sure, I suppose. Although according to success rate — defined as a team’s ability to get 50 percent of necessary yardage on first down, 70 percent on second down, and 100 percent on third and fourth down — OSU is currently No. 36 in the country. That’s not bad. They were 18th last year, 36th the year before and 66th the year before that. They’re much better at explosive plays (14th this year, 13th last year. So compared to their overall offensive ability, this probably is a problem point for the Pokes.

So with Jalen transferring (if he goes to LSU, would be fun to think about the three years of Tyron for one year of Jalen trade, kinda like Kylar Murray for Trevor Knight trade with OU and A&M), Landon Wolf seems to be the natural fit into the slot to take those reps. But, would any other receivers break into the rotation now that there are more reps to be had? And kind of a part two to that question, where does that production (albeit in Jalen’s eyes not enough production) go among the other WRs/Cowboy backs?

My initial thought, assuming McCleskey would get 4 rec./game for the rest of the year, is 1.5 to Wolf, 1.5 to Tyron and 1 to a Cowboy Back (give me more Jelani!). Thoughts? Do the running backs get more targets? More Justice in the slot? The options (thankfully) seem to be there.  -Jon J.

Good questions. We had an intriguing conversation in Slack wondering if maybe Tyron would move inside with somebody like LC Greenwood or Braydon Johnson moving to the outside. That would be intriguing, although I’m not sure it’s something they would consider.

I would love to see them use the RBs as pass catchers more. Chuba running wheel routes makes my knees weak and Justice is a terrific receiver. J.D. has even shown off his man-sized mitts a little bit early in the season. If you believe the strength of your team is at running back but that the OL isn’t going to let them loose, why not try to feature them more in the passing game? Would you feel better about TC throwing 17-yard outs to Landon Wolf or baby hitches to Justice Hill?

Also, Tylan was getting 13 targets a game before Jalen left. He’s going to break the all-time single game receptions mark this year and it’s not even going to feel surprising when it happens!

After watching Army run the triple option all over OU, why does OSU not at least install a few new packages to take advantage of our depth at RB?  We seem to be married to our past offense rather than molding it to fit the team?  Am I crazy? Put three backs in the backfield and pound out 4-5 yards and if they hit space even better. -Cole S.

I’m not the right person to ask this question to since I half-seriously said earlier this week that they should roll with Tyron at QB. I think the real answer though is that it’s easy to run the option but difficult to run it well unless it’s all you do.

I used to play with Nebraska in NCAA Football 1998 (shout out EA Sports) and run the option like it was the only play in the book (honestly it might have been), but to engender the discipline needed to make this effective, I think it probably takes months of work. Also, I’m not sure I want Corndog turning into cornmeal after a few shots to the sternum as he tries to flip the rock to a streaking Chuba around the end.

They should definitely put one or two of these in the book for OU, if only for the high-level troll job it would be.